Native flora and introduced plants of the ecologically important Pilliga Forests of Northwestern NSW

Friday, April 4, 2014

Chloanthes parviflora

Chloanthes parviflora at the Sandstone Caves

Family -Lamiaceae

Common name - Nil

Flowers and fruit - Tubular flowers are 15 to 30mm long, pale mauve - small purple spots and short hairs inside the tube. I have not observed the fruit. Flowering period is mainly September to November.

Leaves and stems - Leaves are linear with upper surface wrinkled and lower surface white and woolly often concealed due to revolute margins. Leaves are upright, sometimes pressed against the stem. Stems are concealed by leaves - woody at base of shrub.

Habit and habitat - A shrub less than a metre tall growing in poor sandy and gravelly soils in heath.

The Pilliga Forest is the largest remaining continuous remnant of semi-arid woodland in NSW, consisting of about 500,000 hectares of public bushland. The environment changes from cypress pine to ironbark to scribbly gum to box, and back again, interspersed with expansive heaths and a network of sandy creeks. The Pilliga is recognised as one of the most important areas for biodiversity in eastern Australia and is home to more than 350 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs. To many who travel through the area, the woodlands might look monotonous, but if you drive the back roads slowly or wander amongst the vegetation, you will discover that The Pilliga is full of life and richness and wonder. It is truly a special place, and of huge significance to the survival of countless native plants and animals.